Stanley Group's International development division is focused on engaging with economically disadvantaged regions to empower people to improve their well-being and address the causes and effects of poverty.

Our approach to international development is underlined by the idea that societies and countries have differing levels of 'development' and can be categorised as developed, developing, or least developed.

More than 700 million people, or 10% of the world population, still live in extreme poverty, and therefore the scale of the challenge is immense. But there is a plan and civil society organisations, the private sector, and governments are all involved.

In 2015 all United Nations Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. At the core of this agenda are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are a call for action by all countries.

They SDGs recognise that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

The 17 SDGs are:

GOAL 1: No Poverty

GOAL 2: Zero Hunger

GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being

GOAL 4: Quality Education

GOAL 5: Gender Equality

GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

GOAL 10: Reduced Inequality

GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

GOAL 13: Climate Action

GOAL 14: Life Below Water

GOAL 15: Life on Land

GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions

GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal

Each year a Sustainable Development Goals Report is published by the UN Secretary-General and provides an overview of the world’s implementation efforts to date, with the latest UN data highlighting areas of progress and areas where more action needs to be taken to ensure no one is left behind.